covers

08 February 2010

Thirty seven years ago this month, Blue Öyster Cult released their second LP: Tyranny and Mutation. I'm sure many a high culture hipster is now rolling his or her eyes in a head suddenly filled with visions of acid washed denim, mullet-cut wearing dudes flanked by chicks who wished they looked like Elvira. And maybe that's as fair as anything else considering BÖC's eventualy foray into cartoon territory like the song Godzilla. But at the time of Tyranny and Mutation, the boys were still singing cryptic, bizarre, surreal and somehow almost soulful heavy metal songs such as The Red and The Black. And, baby, if it's good enough for the Minutemen, it's good enough for me. Note that while many a punk/indie band would cover '70's metal from a position of irony, I think these guys were covering this song (as they often did live, too) out of a pure love for the tune. In fact, Mike Watt did the song live when I saw him last year in Lancaster, PA. So put that in your "Vecka" and "timest" it, yo.

03 November 2009

Cat Stevens wrote it and on his debut LP, Matthew and Son, gives it a treatment that is far too fine china tea set precious compared to the raucous, instant party energy The Tremeloes invest in this song that, for my money, they have not covered so much as usurped and made all their own. Few songs can truly put me in a good mood the instant I hear them (or a better one if I'm already feeling up), but this is one that has never failed to do so. Founding Tremeloes member Brian Poole turns 68 today. Happy Birthday to him.